- Title
- Physical fitness profile of primary schoolchildren from lower socio-economic communities in Port Elizabeth
- Creator
- Smith, Danielle
- Subject
- Physical fitness
- Subject
- Exercise -- Physiological aspects Sports -- Psychological aspects Malnutrition -- Physiological aspects
- Date Issued
- 2018
- Date
- 2018
- Type
- Thesis
- Type
- Masters
- Type
- MA
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/10948/35491
- Identifier
- vital:33740
- Description
- The aim of this study was to measure the physical fitness status of primary schoolchildren from lower socio-economic areas in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. A total of 915 schoolchildren (n=462 boys and n=453 girls), aged 8-to-11-years from eight government schools participated in this study. These included four schools from the Northern Areas (previously reserved for Coloured individuals) and four schools from the Township Areas (previously reserved for Black African individuals). Measurements included weight, height, skinfolds, sit-and-reach, grip strength, standing broad jump and the 20 m shuttle run test. Results showed that girls had higher body fat percentage values than boys (p<.0005). Children of Black African ethnicity were taller and heavier (p<.0005), with higher body fat percentages and body mass index results (p<.0005) than Coloured children (excluding the 8-year-old age group). Children attending Northern Areas schools presented with higher frequencies of underweight, stunting and thinness (p<.0005), than children from Township Area schools who presented with a higher prevalence of overweight and obesity (p<.0005). In relation to physical fitness, boys presented with higher values (p<.0005) for all components, except for flexibility; in which girls performed better (p<.0005). The composite fitness score revealed that boys, Black African children and children from Township Area schools performed better (p<.0005) than Coloured children and children attending Northern Area schools, respectively. Furthermore, children categorised as overweight and obese presented with lower VO2max values than their thin and normal weight peers. Overall, findings revealed that the physical fitness status of children from these disadvantaged areas were not satisfactory. In addition, distinct geographical and ethnic differences were identified.
- Format
- xv, 152 leaves
- Format
- Publisher
- Nelson Mandela University
- Publisher
- Faculty of Health Sciences
- Language
- English
- Rights
- Nelson Mandela University
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NMU School of Lifestyle Sciences
| Thumbnail | File | Description | Size | Format | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| View Details Download | SOURCE1 | Danielle Smith.pdf | 2 MB | Adobe Acrobat PDF | View Details Download |